Chapter 10

Only after seeing that they left did the old madam open her eyes. Shi Qingshan hurriedly picked up the scriptures, “Grandmother, please rest. I will read immediately…”

“Qingshan.” The old madam held her hand, her eyes kind and pitying.

“Grandmother can see that you are a smart and honest child. Your birth mother’s mistakes have nothing to do with you. However, you must understand that Grandmother is the grandmother of all 9 of your siblings. I cannot only care about you and disregard the others. The hearts of the people in the inner courtyard are all rotten. Rotten…

“No one can protect you— not even Grandmother. That’s why you must become strong yourself,” the old madam tidied Shi Qingshan’s hair.

Shi Qingshan looked at the old madam and her eyes couldn’t help but moisten. This was a warmth she had not experienced before.

Even if the madam was a million times unwilling, she still used her fastest speed to count up the stores and hand them over to Shi Qingshan.

“Thirty-two shops! The original 81 shops ended up as 32 shops!”

Shi Qingshan scanned the account books and couldn’t help but laugh.

Duan Xian frowned, “Fifth Young Miss, the madam is bullying! If the Jiu family’s old master was here, let’s see if she’ll still dare to deceive others!”

Shi Qingshan shook her head, “Respect the government, and respect the merchants. If Grandfather could handle the Prime Minister’s affairs, then Mother would not have been sent to Dakong Temple.”

Duan Xian fell silent.

Indeed, back when Jiu Liu was sent to Dakong Temple, the remaining Jiu family members in the Prime Minister’s residence reported to the Jiu family, but no help arrived.

Shi Qingshan sorted the account books and stood up, “Duan Xian, you remain here and make sure no one steals those ten boxes of goods. If anyone comes to ask, say that I went to calculate the accounts.”

She then ordered Wen Cha, “You come with me. I want to personally see how rotten of a state the remaining 32 shops the madam left for me are in!”

On the streets of Bo Re City, a young man in green walked and looked at the scenery. Behind him, a slightly thin follower ran up and whispered, “Fifth Young Miss, why are you walking so fast?”

Shi Qingshan wore men’s clothing since it was more convenient. She couldn’t help but laugh at how out of place Wen Cha looked in men’s clothes.

She ordered, “Don’t call me ‘young miss,’ call me ‘young master’ instead.”

Towards those numbers on the account books, Shi Qingshan had already memorized them all.

When she came to the streets to look, it was indeed close to shutting down. There were few people going into the store, and even the workers were scattered and lazy.

Shi Qingshan smiled coldly. Looks like the madam wholeheartedly handed over the big mess to her.

In front of a store, Shi Qingshan stopped to look at it: Moya Pavilion.

Moya Pavilion was an old store. Jiu Liu would often mention it, and the scented ink was also sold here.

“Let’s go, Wen Cha. It’s a perfect chance to grab some scented ink for Grandmother.” Shi Qingshan crossed the few steps into the store.

There were no attendants who came up to serve when she walked in. The items in the store, including pen and ink, were gray with dust. A few loafers were joking at the counter, but the manager didn’t come out.

Shi Qingshan was very calm. After walking around like a normal customer, she spoke, “I need some scented ink.”

The workers were having a good time and just carelessly pointed, “It’s right there. Pick it up yourself and bring it over to pay.”

Wen Cha’s temper flared up, “Hey! Do you know who this is—”

“Wen Cha!”

Shi Qingshan stopped her. It wasn’t the time to reveal her identity yet.

Wen Cha’s shout just now caused the workers to pause. They bantered, “Ai! Alright, alright! Go and get it for him! We’ll play later!”

A worker got up and took out a lot of scented ink, but he didn’t give Shi Qingshan any face.

“One for two silver!”

“One for two silver?! You guys are a scam shop!” Wen Cha yelled.

Shi Qingshan heard Jiu Liu mention in the past that scented ink was very cheap. Ordinary people could afford it too. A few silver would allow you to buy a lot of it.

Shi Qingshan coldly looked at the worker, “Scented ink does not cost so much. All that scented ink wouldn’t add up to two silver.”

The worker’s temper broke out, “What’s wrong with you? Did you two come to mess things up here?!”

While he asked, a young man wearing white walked in.

His voice was full of laziness, but he indeed came to find trouble: “Where’s the manager? Selling a piece of fake jade at a high price to this master, is he not afraid that I’ll break down this damn shop?”

Hearing this voice, Shi Qingshan, who was just about to turn around, found her heart in her throat.

This was that nosy and frivolous young master!

When the worker saw Yang Ze come in, he quickly became energetic and called the manager out.

When the manager came out, he abruptly lost his smile. On the other side of the counter, Yang Ze was full of smiles.

Yang Ze acted his part of a grand master, sitting on the bench and kicking up his legs. He lazily smiled, “Either pay me back ten times the amount, or let me break down the store. You choose.”

The manager was sullen. He continuously patted his two hands, “Master, this little one is just a manager. This lowly one has no right to decide such a big matter! Besides, that Guanyin jade you took from here was real…”

Yang Ze’s lofty eyes swept across the manager as his lips hooked up in a smile, “So you’re saying this master is purposely finding trouble with you?”

The manager suddenly jolted and his head shook like a sieve, “No, no, no. This lowly one doesn’t dare! It’s this lowly one’s fault!”

Yang Ze laughed lightly. It was low and tempting, as if it could penetrate directly into the heart.

“Hmph! Little guy, this master will warn you out of consideration: everything in this store is fake!” Yang Ze’s voice suddenly fell upon Shi Qingshan’s back.

Wen Cha blinked and stared at Yang Ze dumbfounded.

How could there be such a good-looking man?

At this moment, Shi Qingshan felt like Yang Ze’s gaze bore two holes in her back. She took a deep breath, turned, and smiled, “Young Master, would you please allow me to see that piece of Guanyin jade?”

Yang Ze’s starry black eyes wandered towards Shi Qingshan. The smile in his eyes seemed to speak for itself. He casually gave the manager a look.

The manager looked with annoyance at Shi Qingshan before stuffing the Guanyin jade to her.

After receiving the Guanyin jade, Shi Qingshan carefully checked the Moya Pavilion symbol, color, and texture. She lightly said, “You dare to sell fake jade, but don’t dare to pay money?”

The manager angrily yelled, “What does that have to do with you hairless monkey?”

“Entering makes you a customer, how could it have nothing to do with me?” Shi Qingshan glared coldly at the manager, “In my opinion, it wouldn’t be overboard to pay this customer back twenty times the amount!”

Yang Ze raised his eyebrows and smiled as if he was slightly surprised.

The manager immediately retorted, “What are you to try to order this daddy around?”

“Clean your mouth!”

Shi Qingshan’s tone was tough, a marked difference from her slight frame, “Businesses are run on honesty. As a manager, you can’t even protect the most basic bottom line, so what right do you have to remain here?”

The manager dissatisfiedly spoke, “Our Moya Pavilion is an old store that was opened by the Chu City Jiu family! I am an old man sent over all the way from Chu City! The old master is also far away in the Chu City! Who dares tell me to go?!”

“Me.” Shi Qingshan coldly spit out a word.

The manager was stunned for a moment before laughing out loud, “Really… Really a frog in the well! Hairless boy, do you understand? Behind our Moya Pavilion is the madam of the Prime Minister! If I report you to the madam, even if you run to the ends of the world, I can still…”